Russia fields Kamov-226 for India’s $600mn chopper contract
17 Feb 2010
New Delhi: Russia has fielded the uniquely configured Kamov-226 'Sergei' light utility helicopter in its bid for the 197-helicopter tender put out by the Indian armed forces. It has brought in three of these choppers to participate in trials to be conducted in the high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
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| Ka-226 T |
Under the $600 million deal, 60 helicopters will be supplied in a "fly-away" condition, while the remaining 137 will be assembled by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
"We have brought the Ka-226 helicopters for the high altitude trials that are going on at present. We are competing in the bids against Eurocopter and Agusta Westland," Rosoboronexport's deputy director general Victor Komardin said here at the ongoing DefExpo.
The Ka-226, an upgraded version of the Ka-26, is a small, twin-engined utility helicopter with a changeable body that can be switched around to match different mission profiles. It has quiet engines that can lift the chopper to altitudes of 7,600 meters. Its classic Kamov co-axial rotor blades are adapted for hot climates as well.
The Ka-226 is up against European manufacturer Eurocopter's offering, the AS-550, and British-Italian major Agusta Westland's AW119 helicopters for this particular tender.
